The mother of a little Afghan girl cannot even turn to face her daughter. She looks down in shame as she explains why she must hand the girl over to drug lords.

The father of the girl has done what many Afghan farmers must do to finance their opium farms: borrow money from drug traffickers. But the Afghan government and international forces’ attempt to halt the opium trade has quashed the father’s poppy business, and with it, his ability to pay back the lenders.

The drug lords have taken him hostage to extract a payment.

“I have to give my daughter to release my husband,” the mother explains with the girl at her side. She looks no older than six.

Ninety percent of the world's opium – the raw source of heroin – comes from Afghanistan. Growing poppy there has been a lucrative industry.

The Afghan government has been cracking down and destroying illegal crops, leaving many farmers in the same horrifying situation as the family forced to use their own daughter as collateral for the loan.

“They’re way more dangerous and powerful than the Taliban,” one father of two kidnapped children says about the drug lords. He looks at a text messaged picture of his daughter being held in captivity as the captors demand $20,000 from the man over the telephone.

These tragic stories are documented in PBS’ award-winning Frontline film, "Opium Brides,” which was made by investigative Afghan reporter Najibullah Quraishi and producer Jamie Doran.

Quraishi told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that when the families give up their children, they are often taken to other countries, like Pakistan or Iran, where they are used for transporting drugs or put into sex slavery.

The film traces another story of an ill-fated Afghan farmer. “It just seemed too awful to be true,” producer Jamie Doran told Amanpour about that man’s plight. “[He] couldn't pay the traffickers back and refused to give his daughter away. And we actually have the entire film of him being beheaded with a penknife. That's what they do if you refuse to hand over your daughters.”

The reporter behind the film says the government is aware that it is destroying families’ lives along with their crops, but policymakers have yet to come up with a solution to safeguard the farmers’ families while trying to end the opium trade.

One little girl who was lucky enough to escape her captors recounts just how horrible the conditions were. “They wouldn't allow me to change my clothes. They wouldn't give me soap to wash them. My clothes became worn out on my body. They did every possible cruelty to me. I really fear that those smugglers will take me again.”

Even if the girls do escape, they often have nowhere to go while they search for their families. The filmmakers did find one halfway house, but it was only enough for about 30 girls.

The filmmakers believe there are many hundreds, if not thousands of girls on the run from the traffickers.

“The role of NATO and the United Nations is fascinating in this situation,” Doran said. “The U.N. and NATO ISAF will tell you it's not their responsibility nor do they advocate the destruction – the eradication of the poppy. But they supply the protection for the police to actually do it. So they're saying on one hand, 'we have nothing to do with this.' But the Afghan police couldn't do without NATO support.”

But Doran points out that the root of the problem is the opium drug users. “I don't know if there's a solution because the world demands poppy cultivation for its heroin addiction. So you know, maybe the blame shouldn't just be put onto the Afghan government. Maybe we should be looking inside ourselves a little more,” Qaurishi said.

The looming fear is that this horrendous situation could worsen when international troops leave Afghanistan in 2014.

soundoff(293 Responses)

Why are they growing this plant in the first place if they know what the possible outcome will be? There has to be a solution other than the life and welfare of their own children. This is devastating and destroying lives and the children are the ones that are being forced to deal with the consequences of a situation that they had no part in creating. There has to be another way for these families to survive and take care of their families and not jeopardize their children in the process. What are the government agencies doing to help the situation instead being a part of the problem by forcing these families to make the choices that are causing this horrible situation to occur?

You obviously have not lived in third world countries. Starbucks coffee flavors are really not the most pressing issue for most of the world, and making a living to support a family is difficult at best.

Thank you for your reply. My post was a direct response to what the article mentioned and nothing more, which was why I asked the question that I did. I want to find out more information about what is really happening there and asking a question on the post was a way to do that. I have no lived in a third world country but I have been traveled to one and what I saw and what the people were like after years of horrendous treatment left me as well as most I would imagine with a sense of heart wrenching fear and frustration for a people that deserve so much more than they get. I do appreciate your response and if you have more information that would help me to better understand the situation then please forward as I would welcome any light that you might be able to spread on this topic.

January 27, 2013 at 1:54 am |

tex

It is hard to make a living especially when you are involved in the drug trade.All of these men know and have known their entire lives EXACTLY what their crop is used for and that is.To get people hooked on the opium which men concentratr into heroin for the west and straight up opium for the east who seem to get their people hooked by smoking as opposed to the west crime families getting people hooked through snorting and injecting.They are not just poor farmers.
They are poor farmers in reality and I feel terrible.One way out is to get some moral principals (like not growing a crop that will knowingly be turned into drugs that are highly addictive, destructive and harmful ) Drugs that will go to some other poor mothers child and destroy their lives.
So first you must have morality (I guess religion does not equate to morality)
Secondly you are going to have to stand up for your morals.Yes killing and dieing.It will be horrendous at first since you have lived for centuries with a screwed up sense of morals.It will get better after awhile but at first lets face it you have been knowingly working for the devil as we say so it will not be easy but the devil learns to go where the pickings are easiest.So it will get better,better than most can even imagine
Lets look at it this way there are hundreds of men in prison as I am writing and thousands if not hundreds of thousands through the years in America.Their families torn apart their wives and children left to fend for themselves.Their crime was simply making the mistake of getting hooked on the product made from the plants grown by these men in Afghanistan.We destroy their lives through the legal system almost as much as the drug itself.Hell we destroy families in this country for smoking marijuana have for years ,the government has lied and families have suffered.It is not even addictive and actually seems to have some medicinal use.
Anyway point is as a government you cant say it is okay to grow a crop that the farmer and politician both know is going to ruin American lives (I through in the American part because they seem to be more valuable to Americans than other forms of life) and then turn around and imprison those that get hooked on the drug you advocated as a good way for an Afghan man to raise a family.MORALS,MORALS,and MORALS it is really not rocket science..

January 28, 2013 at 3:19 am |

Karen Sanders

As insensitive (even snide) as your remark may seem it is right on. I wholly agree.

February 11, 2013 at 5:57 pm |

purple_tiger

Growing anything else requires more resources like money investments in the seeds and care of the crops. Poppy is the easiest thing to grow. The ratio is very good.

How often have I said, "No one is that unaware. No on is that stupid."

Then I read "Satyr's" comment, and I feel defeated.

January 26, 2013 at 11:35 am |

GrimReaper4u

Satyr will be put in the same position – then it will die SCREAMING. I'm going to predict mind-blowing ANXIETY and DEPRESSION for it (when all alone in the quiet/dark. Sweet dreams.

January 26, 2013 at 1:46 pm |

Chinaman noodle

The USA has farmers there trying to teach them how to grow "real" crops instead of a dead end business like drugs. Still it's not possible to reach them all.

January 26, 2013 at 4:13 pm |

Lame

The only one making this bed for them to sleep in are "the Afghan government and international forces’ attempt to halt the opium trade" as the article said. What business is it of theirs if someone wants to USE opium? These "forces" are attempting to block humans free will. Yet you mock at God as a being that is forcing you to do what he wants you to do? you fools are so disgraceful. You do not know God, and you do not know common sense, and the result is a girl is now enslaved by an afghani mafia and all you can do is continue to point the finger at the families who are simply supplying what the market is asking for. Reminds me of democrats in America who complain of rich people giving the market what they want and profiting from it legally.

Thank you for your response. The only knowledge that I had on the subject was what I read in that post and it bothered me so much that instead of reading more information on the subject I jumped at posting a question. This is a sad and horrific situation and I will continue to be do my homework in order to be on top of this as much as possible. Thank you for the eye opening response.

January 27, 2013 at 1:57 am |

Danya

That six year old girl never made any bed , she shouldn't have been the pawn in this game. I can only imagine where she will end up.

January 27, 2013 at 11:05 pm |

tex

The only resources settlers had out west in the 1800s were simple tools like a plow, a beast of burden, a wheel, fire and the most important tool was their moral spirit.They decided to grow hemp and wheat and potatos corn beans.Trade for what you didn't have.Most would have never taught their children that it is okay to make a living growing and selling a crop that you know is going to bring harm to others.Morals is the difference.That and a willingness to band together and stand up for themselves when the bad guys come calling.

January 28, 2013 at 3:36 am |

tex

Ps growing morals cost no money at all.

January 28, 2013 at 3:41 am |

Inez

Yes, it's true that anything else is difficult, or nearly impossible, to farm. But, I would characterize the trade-off as utterly unacceptable. This level of desperation is what drives some to this choice, and many in our own society to the drug trade & other immoral activities, but that doesn't make it right.

This is a line in the sand that humans need to dedicate themselves not to cross, in order to find the courage of determination to make a better society for themselves and those that depend on them.

April 1, 2013 at 7:53 pm |

StanCalif

They grow poppies to support the relatives of Karsai! The Afghan police are employed to ensure safe delivery out of the country. All the money the US "gave" Karsai to help farmers produce melons and other exportable agricultrual crops somehow never made it to the farmers. Karsai's "retirement fund" got it!

Thank you for your reply. These people do not seem to stand a chance as moral corruption stifles any chance of a better life that these people might have. Very disheartening to know that the world is on such a downward spiral and to know that it will only get worse before it gets better. Thank you again for your reply and for the information. I will definitely research this more to be better informed.

January 27, 2013 at 2:00 am |

Bambi

Human beings are like the water, they take the path of minimum resistance. It's a different psychology in that world that world aid should have it in mind when giving out help!

January 27, 2013 at 6:02 pm |

oneWayfarer

When the TALIBAN controlled Afghanistan they recognized that although Poppy had been grown there for thousands of years; the Drug Trade was morally damaging to the Afghan people – so by 2000 they had WIPED OUT the growing of Poppy for Export. Within a YEAR of the US Invasion Afghanistan had become the supplier of 85% of the world's opium for HEROIN.

First, I recall, quite clearly, reading about the poppy farms that were virtually everywhere. Second, the proof is in the proliferation. If it were true that there it was almost wiped out, there'd be no way for it to be so rampant this dozen years later.

So basically they had taken care of the problem before the US went back into Afghanistan and brought the problem right back to the people so that they really had no choice. These people are suffering now because of US and their outside influence. It really is the responsibility of not just the government to be well informed, but the responsibility of its people as well in order to better understand what the realities are so at to be a voice of opposition and conscious when the government's myopic views seem to forget about the most important people of all, the citizens who are most affected by the decisions our leaders make. Thank you for your reply and this has been an eye opening experience that I do wish to explore further.

January 27, 2013 at 1:49 am |

Bob

I am no supporter of the Taliban because of their rigid religous believs but one must not hesitate giving them credit where credit is due. They had law and order which has never been seen in Afghanistan since then. They almost eleimnated most of the popy farms and trade. They also eliminated exploitation of young boys and girls. Unfortunately, the so called US supported democratic regime of Karzai cannot claim all this.

January 27, 2013 at 11:38 pm |

tex

Afghanistan has been the worlds supplier of opium for many many decades if not centuries.PERIOD

January 28, 2013 at 3:44 am |

Josh

Actually the Taliban banned Afghans from using Opium/Heroine. But they gave a green light to producing opium for the INFIDELS. Go and look it up.

February 4, 2013 at 2:59 pm |

GoogleIT

Actually, tex, and others it is true.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Afghanistan

in July 2000, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, collaborating with the United Nations to eradicate heroin production in Afghanistan, declared that growing poppies was un-Islamic, resulting in one of the world's most successful anti-drug campaigns. As a result of this ban, opium poppy cultivation was reduced by 91% from the previous year's estimate of 82,172 hectares. The ban was so effective that Helmand Province, which had accounted for more than half of this area, recorded no poppy cultivation during the 2001 season.[16][17] The Bush administration paid a 43 million dollar 'eradication' reward payment to the Taliban in 2001.

February 8, 2013 at 6:35 pm |

rose

I have Afghan relatives who's families still live in Afghanistan and they say that as bad as the Taliban was, they did do a lot of great things like wipe out the production of heroin. The US again has left a a country in a far worse condition and tries to make it seem as if they are helping when in reality they have destroyed the country just like Iraq.

April 1, 2013 at 3:18 pm |

Ricardo Davis

To ask the question why they grown opium means that you don't know what people will do to not starve to death. You have know frame of reference for the existence they have, it's ok, though because you're a Westerner and most Westerners don't have a clue about the 3rd world.

Thank you for your reply and for the eye opening response. It is horrible to think that there are places in this world that you hear about, let alone the ones that you don't, where these things are going on as normal as someone else getting up and having breakfast with their children. Thank you for sharing and I will definitely be doing more research on this topic. Very heartbreaking.

January 27, 2013 at 2:03 am |

Bambi

It is not about the third or western world.
It is about being human in the first place, accepting responsibility to be a human being and therefore protect your offspring with your own life. There are moral values which come with development, it's not just money!
We usually go to school or learn from other people experiences. We copy behaviors or learn from experience.

I wonder how the people who have been doing this type of trade feel like? Do they know the implications of what they are doing? Money is everything?

January 27, 2013 at 6:15 pm |

tex

Your comment is like the equivelent of me saying that it is a moral thing and you are from a muslim country so its okay.I do not expect you to understand morals because you are from a muslim country.These people could have done lots of things to keep from starving.Some people (not from America) or (the west as you call them) seem to think that for some reason Americans don't know what its like to be poor oppressed and hungry.Cheated and stomped.Abused used and left to die.When in reality America was formed by men who were sick and tired of being persecuted and cheated.those that died and those that followed as well as those that welcomed those that followed.That is why America is the most generous people on the planet.Thats why they are the first to offer assistance and help all over the world in a time of need.Because America was forged to right a wrong,and the people still teach their children that right is right and wrong is wrong.America may not always be right (Iraq) but lets face it if the Afghans Iragis and Iranians wouldn't threaten America they would all be just fine.It is easier to blame problems on America than oneself isn't it. The great satan.Also makes it easier to justify growing and selling drugs.(you aren't going to do them it will be sold to harm the great satan America.

January 28, 2013 at 5:28 am |

khan

This is so called new democratic Afghanistan under an american backed Karzai's government. What a shame? They [American] destroyed this country, handed over millions of dollars to these warlords for their support. Are Afghan really free? Is there any justice? Did they really liberate this country?

Thanks for your reply. I have also been told that in the beginning of this century, this problem was basically eliminated until the US came into the picture. Now they are provide 85% of the world's heroin. That is the problem with the leaders and governments today. The jump into action without trying to really understand how the consequences of their actions will trickle down to people and their families and their way of life. Thank you again for your response and I will continue to be better informed so as to understand what is really going on over there.

January 27, 2013 at 2:06 am |

ken

II am amazed at the criticism on this board. Westerners are not exposed to such third world behavior. Different cultures have grown and been raised to accept the good and bad of their own actions. The parents can only provide what they are capable of. If poppy allows them to raise their children with food and shelter, then who is to toss the first stone. People must survive in the environment that they are raised in, whether we like it or not. Those being critical of the parents need to realize that as they watch their sports on their 50" TVs, drive their SUVs, have dinner at upscale restaurants, that this country has worked for these luxuries. Others are less fortunate due to their environment. Sometimes it is Government, sometimes it is Religion and often it is society. In the Western World, money can buy justice. There are many examples of this. As in any period of time, there is good and bad. Instead of complaining about the bad, why not support the good. If you want to help situations like this, then act instead of complaining and whining. Each and every person can help in their own way. You choose.

Thank you for your reply. It is a horrible situation and having seen other third world countries and seen what the government does is disgraceful to say the least. I merely reacted to what I read and wanted more information about the subject. There is a lot going on over there and the reasons why this is happen is a more complex issue than the article that i responded to leads you to believe. It is horrific and you are correct in saying that something has to be done and that only talking about it is not the solution that these people need. However, when you look further into the situation it is obvious how involvement from other countries has not always been the correct solution either, especially when it comes to the US. Things are not worse according to research from other sources so jumping in without knowing the full extent of ones actions is not appropriate either. So helping in ones own way is one of the reasons that they are in this mess in the first place. There needs to be an intelligent and thought out plan to aid these people and not just everyone jump in and do what they can and do what they think is right because that is not going to help anyone. The comments that I made were an expression of concern and shock as to what was going on and a reaction to what I read in the article and nothing more. It was a horrible article and when it is read again without the initial shock it was a very brief and limited as to the real picture over there and why it is that way. Hopefully now with more light shed on the subject things can change and with more information someone like myself can help with that change. Thank you for your comments and I wish you luck with your own efforts to help bring about change to this problem as well. Good luck!

January 27, 2013 at 1:05 pm |

tex

One way to help them would be by not buying their drugs.What a copout.These people have their priorities messed up.
First their wife and children are not their top priority.Their top priority is to the clan.They are taught that westerners aka people that arent muslim are everything that is wrong in the world.It is not anything that they do it is not their fault that corrupt governments take all the wealth and resources no not at all evrybad thing that has ever happened to a muslim has been caused by a non muslim(probably an American)That is why it is so easy to understand why they choose to be in the drug trade to Make a living.They have been taught that their GOD approves and will be pleased of themmaking and selling drugs (that will kill infidels all over the world) Yep they have really been screwed by a bunch of greedy corrupt men posing as saints.The only way out is ugly ,it means looking at yourself taking responsibility acting to change.While your at it if you really do believe in the whole God Allah thing perhaps it would not hurt to ask for forgiveness.Shame there have been so many thousands of poor young muslim men screwed by their grandfathers and fathers so bad that life is not worth living at not when your loony toons uncles convinces you that Allah will give you paradise and virgins if you are just strong enough and believe hard enough to show Allah how much you love him by walking into a maket (where PEOPLE are shopping trying to support their families wjith morals and honor) and detonate some explosives and splatter other peoples (neighbors coworkers teachers) children like a child would a waterbaloon.The bottom line is these are a sick people and their Allah is probably imaginary like all gods of religion.( one cann't say yes or know but I have seen no evidense for support of a God but I have seen well enough evidence to be very skeptical)so they need to take responsibility for their own actions and simply at least try to do the right thing

January 28, 2013 at 5:59 am |

TexanFalcon

Well, This system of payment also used widely in Pakistan and most don't see a problem with it back home. If you borrow money and can not pay I don't see anything wrong in paying with your family member because it is what you now have for payment instead of money. In fact this was a common "barter" system that was invented by the Arab and Pakistani traders who ruled the world at one time. It promoted trade and gives the debtor a second chance. It is 100 times better than so called democracy where deadbeat debtors claim bankruptcy and not pay the debt. I think banks should start taking away family members as payment and you will see the so called "bad loans" disappear in the USA. This is why Pakistan and Afghanistan is progressing with making sure all rules are followed and there is a second chance. This is also part of Sharia law soon coming to USA.

In many instances these farmers are forced by the very same drug lords to grow this crop at the risk of the lives of themselves and their families. those who grow other crops, regardless of the origin of the see (NGO, military, or other) find their fields destroyed and lives at risk.

These people are losing no matter what. How helpless they must feel that no matter what they do they are going to lose. Either the whole family or their daughters and of course their crops. The more I hear about this situation from the replies the more hopeless it sounds, but there has to be a way that will help the problem and protect the people being affected.....

January 29, 2013 at 5:42 pm |

Sarah Miller

It is very easy to talk about morals when you have enough food on your table. People that do these kind of things do not necessarily have a bad morality. Imagine you are a poor Afghan farmer. If you grow normal crops, your family will starve! You do not profit as much, you have to take care of your seven children (since you have no access to birth control either) and your wife cannot help much since women are so restricted in Afghanistan. If you grow opium, it is sure market because you know people will always be asking for more. Also, it sells by much much much more money, which might actually give your family barely enough to eat. The farmer probably cannot do anything else as he didn't go to school (not that he did not want it, but could not afford it) and the woman either. Plus, she is a woman so she is not allowed to work. Now, if the father is captured by the drug lords, and the mother can exchange one child for the father, what can she do? If she doesn't cooperate, no one will work and her children and her will die anyways. Is it better to sacrifice all of her babies for the sake of one? Or to recover the only means of survival the family has (the father)? And while the country's government is swarmed with problems (both because of the war and because of other issues) and is penniless, they have other pressing issues to deal with. Or should they let their economy be based on opium and turn a blind eye on that type of farming? NGO's have no power there either, no matter what country they come from. And the issue is repeated in so many other countries. Why do you think Mexico is drowning on blood from their own drug wars? Because the US and Europe are demanding drugs, which makes it a profitable businness for poor farmers in the developing world. Tex: Don't be so judging of others when you don't really know what is going on. Who, according to you, agrees with Afghan men growing opium? Don't you see that was the problem on the first place? The government destroying their cultivation?

That dad should die for his daughter and not let these ba33333s lay a finger on her. This is an Abonination. Children throughout this planet are being abused 24/7 365. It is time to have a f-ing real war. Something worthwhile living and dying for. A War for the Children. May all of these worthless pieces of @@@@ burn in hell. If it isn't the catholic peodephial priest then it is drug dealers. If it isn't drug dealers then it's f-ing Talibin or other extremist who see women less than an animal. It is time to make war on all of these as2h0le3. Kill them all. Take no prisoners.

I agree. The parents know that a lifetime of horrendous existence of abuse and suffering is her future if they give her to these thugs. Not that I want this for her but frankly, she'd be better off dead than surrendered – at least she wouldn't have to endure a lifetime of suffering. The LEAST these parents can do is give one of their lives for hers. And if this is the fate of children born into thes poor families, they shouldn't have any more kids.

February 14, 2013 at 10:13 am |

steven kraatz

father should pay the debt not the daughter he took the risk he should pay the consequence .Where is all this family honor in this story ?

Usually the poor people in these areas have many children(5-9) and the whole family is dependent on one person to survive. In this case if father is killed or taken away by the drugs lords then the whole family will be destroyed as women usually are not allowed to work but if by giving away one daughter they can save the other then it is like going for a better evil

April 28, 2013 at 11:41 am |

JasmineSun

Why should the international troops leave there? Can't they do something about it? To tell the truth, I hate to read news like this. However, it does happen in this world. When most people are thinking about what to do for supporting their lives, some girls are struugling for the freedom. This is a matter about life and death. I can't imagine what their life will be like after the ordeals. I just would like to know if there are some people, some people can really stop it from happening over and over. Those poor girls are not brides, but victims. Can somebody try to rescue them? Please.

This is why we need a presence there! This evil must stop. And I do not understand why a mother would choose to help her husband over her child! My husband would not want me to! If they can grow poppy why can't they grow food and live on that? This angers me so!

Average monthly income for a subsistence farmer in Afghanistan: $2.00. Average monthly income for a poppy farmer in Afghanistan: $200.00. It's not love...its math and survival in a place where there is no functional education system (and hasn't been for DECADES) . Cause/effect relationships, strategic thinking and defiance are luxuries. Welcome to war.

The farmers were originally forced by the taliban to stop growing food and to only grow poppies. Anyone who refused were punished. I am guessing that the drug lords have taken over the job of enforcing this rule. The major problem is... that when they are forced to grow anything other than food...their independence to provide food to feed their families is no longer available. They are forced then into a system...the only system...That is the safest, most economically viable. it's sink or sink faster.

this is a shameful act. shame on those parents who can trade their daughters. this is a big shame and they will be punished by a mighty God. I am saddened by this fact that this is what our world has come to. Where is the humanity? Who can do this to an innocent child. May God protect these innocent children from these horrendous actions. Save ur kids dont get involved with illegal drugs!!!

God allows us to make our own decisions, and for those who make bad ones, like these farmers, better hope they know him.

January 25, 2013 at 6:24 pm |

The Eternal Satyr

"God allows us to make our own decisions..." ::snip::

Just as if he wasn't there. An absentee parent is just as bad as an abusive one.

January 25, 2013 at 7:16 pm |

truth

i agree totally

January 26, 2013 at 8:13 am |

BAU

Your faith shows

January 26, 2013 at 9:04 am |

Chuck

Yeah BAU, because that little girl decided to be handed over to drug lords.

January 26, 2013 at 1:01 pm |

Bau and those like 'em are idiots.

Seriously, where is you god for these girls?

January 26, 2013 at 1:19 pm |

Sam

Bravo !

January 26, 2013 at 1:22 pm |

bob

i suppose you are one of those people who think god don't allow things like this to happen. well welcome to the real world man is doing this to man. god has noting to do with it its funny there is no god but when things happen its all blamed on god . grow up america

January 26, 2013 at 2:01 pm |

dike

maybe when the word spreads the fathers would stop borrowing money from these people with his daughter as collateral. They work on religious beliefs, one of which is a female is considered as property. its boils down to a F'kd up religion

But, they are members of the religion of peace! That girl will have a beautiful life among those men who will make sure the religion of peace is shoved down her throat, beat across her back and bashed over her head every day.

February 3, 2013 at 3:20 pm |

Ander

So you are saying God let these innocent little girls suffer unimaginable cruelties so that the drug lords and the indebted farmers can have a choice to go into the drug business? I understand God punishing the farmers for their poor choice, but why let atrocities happen to these children who have no choice? How about the drug lords? They seem to be profiting either way...drug trafficking or human trafficking.

Yes people like you and your small minded, petty need to see others suffer in the name of some effed up, "loving" god somehow makes the whole religion thing that much more sickening. Sorry, the truly sane and compassionate want no part of that evil.

I'm no one to judge, but I wonder: so the mother prefers to have her daughter suffer unstead of her husband? as a mother I would give my life for saving my kids from any type of horrific suffering.. don't get it😦

Why is it that those who profess to hold islamic beliefs seem to have no problem committing atrocious acts. Abuse of women and children, acts of terrorism. etc etc. Are you telling us it is only a coincidence?

January 26, 2013 at 5:07 am |

truth

God does not exist get over yourself

January 26, 2013 at 8:14 am |

ElDestroyer

If they return her husband, she could eat. Do you know the fate of two lonely girls in a Sharia society?

Then how the heck will the mother be able to support the other kids by herself? There aren't jobs for women there. They'll all wind up dying.

January 26, 2013 at 12:16 pm |

MissCissi

I'm glad you grew up in a world where decisions like this are unthinkable, I really am. However, obviously, you have no knowledge of how most of the rest of the world lives, do you? You think this was really a choice? It never was – she gives up her baby or they take her baby – there were never any other options on the table for her. I suggest you get off your mountain and OPEN YOUR EYES to the atrocities going on all around us everyday in this world – even in this country. I'll bet you don't know about the 3rd world poverty happening right here in our borders. Take a trip to any reservation in America and you'll see the same kind of poverty, people wintering in the far North in plastic covered shacks. Are you just talking out your face or are you going to DO something about it? Goodthinking for all our Relations is an AWESOME resource if you actually want to help instead of spewing about a world you don't understand.

January 26, 2013 at 12:45 pm |

T. Mosley

Easy, it's just not that Easy. In their society, without her husband, the rest of community would let that family perish...

February 2, 2013 at 10:55 am |

etri

I was thinking the same, that is an exchange of horror for horror. I guess she prefers selling the daughter because her husband is going to bring more profit if he's home. Also, the drug dealers may even pay a bit to have the daughter, considering how many sicko Afghan men love raping virgin little girls.
What a hopeless country Afghanistan is. How did it get that low in first place??????

As usual, you people lack the competence to see things from a different perspective. Yes, any family in the West would prefer to hand over the father, than the daughter. But you fail to realize that contrary to the West, in Afghanistan, a family with a man in charge can still be able to support itself. On the other hand, should the father be handed over, how are the mother and daughter supposed to support themselves? Women in Afghanistan are basically slaves and even if they have the will to survive, they do not have the means. They don't know how to work the fields, how to read, write, manage their business, etc. Without the father, the entire family is likely to go down. Without the daughter... the family will only have lost a less valuable member of the family (in terms of functionality).

And before you start insulting me, no, I do think this is a horrible situation and I still think the parents should be ashamed of themselves. I'm just telling you people to stop judging them from a Western POV. It's Afghanistan we're talking about. If the parents had a different choice, they would have taken it. So stop insinuating that these poor people love their children less than you do. You just don't have to make the tough decisions that they have to make.

you are absolutly correct and unitl their entire culture changes in regards to the way women are treated this kind of thing will never stop

January 26, 2013 at 10:03 am |

Mitchell

So many comments are just plain ignorant and I am as western as a person could be. Idiots fail to put themselves in another persons shoes before they place their prejudice.

January 26, 2013 at 1:11 pm |

Nathan

It's a tough choice, an Afghan woman in many areas can't work or even leave their house without a male escort. So the choice isn't her husband or her daughter. It is her husband and then possible starvation for her, the daughter, and any other young children in the family. It is horrible, and many of the farmers get forced to grow poppies with the same kind of threats.

Mike: It seems that you know nothing about Islam at all. I highly suggest that you educate yourself about the religion and how much importance the Prophet gave on raising children and specially girls with Prophet Muhammad, himself raising daughters. Just watch the youtube video or search for "Cherish Your Daughters – Omar Suleiman"

This is about poverty and illiteracy. They have 10 kids at times and what will a mother do to feed the rest of the family.

It is all about Islam.
Islam gives Muslims like you so many choices to pick from:
(a) Throw acid on young girls face because they want to attend school, or
(b) Shoot young girls like Malala in Pakistan because they want to go to school
(c) Cut off their ears and nose like your people did to Aisha Bibi
(d) Give your 6 year old daughter to a Muslim drug lord
See, Islam is all about free will - so many choices.
So, what's it gonna be? Take your favorite pick.

January 25, 2013 at 7:29 pm |

Ron

>>This is about poverty and illiteracy. <<
Yes. And about debt, and about the war on drugs...

January 26, 2013 at 6:23 am |

chuck

I just want to point out that no one is judging. That father made a choice to go into a buisness knowing that he would be putting his daughter and family in danger. So it isn't about being uneducated.

January 26, 2013 at 12:41 pm |

Mitchell

Chuck, you and most here are judging. You haven't the ability to put yourself in their shoes. These father's are continuing in the only way they have ever known. They didn't grow up in the west with a host of career options, they didn't decide to pursue poppy growth rather than continue their college education.

January 26, 2013 at 1:18 pm |

Enam

NATO: US ARMY & UN Forces has lot to do with OPIUM. They all are capitalizing with the help of dumber Karzai and Zalmay Khalizad.

Islamic people blame drones for killing their terrorists. However, when you consider what these Islamists do to innocent children, drones seem very appropriate to handle them. Parents trading their own children with Islamic drug lords! Sheesh!!

I would rather be be-headed with a pen knife than hand over my 6 year old daughter to a drug lord.

January 25, 2013 at 5:07 pm |

purple_tiger

Well, mom of 4, cutting your head with nife would not save your daughter from been sold, just in this case all 4 of yours would have the same destiny.

January 25, 2013 at 5:33 pm |

Mitchell

Mom of 4, you just don't get it. If the father is beheaded, the drug lord's and any other predator will have access to the mother, daughter and entire family. They will all be abused without the father. Keep your ignorance to yourself.

January 26, 2013 at 1:21 pm |

Anoori

I wouldn't call Drug dealers Islamists. For that matter, in my opinion all drug dealers have no religion because they destroy people's life. I mean the entire enterprise is set on destroying the end user's life. Weather Christian, Jew, muslim, these drug dealers do not follow their religious teaching and therefore calling them "islamists" is wronge and an upfront to the religion of Islam.

Anoori, they call themselves Islamists so who are we (or you) to say they are liars?

January 26, 2013 at 2:24 am |

Iam a muslim and I'm proud

In Islam it is strictly prohibited to sell buy and use drugs unless for medical reasons (putting the patient to sleep) calling drug lords islamists is obserd and insulting to the religion. If you don't know about something i suggest not acting like you do and use terms in the wrong way.

Really? Islam proudly permitted marrying a 6-year old Aisha to a 50 year old Mohammed. Now, if that was OK in Islam, it should also be OK to give your 6 year old daughter to a Muslim drug lord. Nobody is surprised.

January 25, 2013 at 7:33 pm |

I am a muslim and I'm blind now

Myslims are the biggest drug traffickers in South Asia, but I refuse to see them.

January 26, 2013 at 5:33 pm |

Bob

dirka, stop being ignorant about Prophet Muhammad and his iwfe Ayesha. Apparently you read too much internet propaganda to know the truth. If you are really keen to find outthe truth ,then read Islamic history which is authentic. Ayesha ,married Prophet Muhammad when she was 19 years old!!!

January 27, 2013 at 11:48 pm |

NorCalMojo

The Taliban fought the drug lords. It's one of the reasons they have popular support.

where does it say Islamic drug lord? There are no drugs in Islam. Read the Quran first and show me one reference where it says ok to use drugs. You will find plenty of verses strictly prohibiting drugs and alcohol

They are muslim just for name sake - So do not put Islam on frontline. What Christians or Jews do. What they went for a WAR in Afghanistan, to catch bloody OSAMA. Or it is something really - where you along with most of the Americans got fooled and dragged in to War for many benefits (Drugs, Resources, Military sales ....Long shags notion of PEACE. They want safe drugs out, No crops is just a name sake. Karzai was placed like saddam in IRAQ, Taliban one time friends of US and CIA created this devils at the time of russian war> let me tell you your government study culture, region and tribes with Individuals well in advance and takes steps only for some selfish interest which you will never be able to find out.... REASON...U and Most others do not know the other side of the story and rely what your Government presents with secretary of States previous dumbo's at the time of G W Bush and now like Hilllary Randi clinton

Are we so completely insensitive to read an article like this and spout one of the following:
1 – These parents are horrible, how dare they do that.
2 – Muslims
3 – Why do they grow opium
etc.

No parent in any part of the world or any culture would want to do this willingly. In the case of this girl the mother has the choice of one of her daughters living an awful life (but still living) ... or her husband being killed followed by her kids being taken away by force.

As to why they grow poppy, sometimes it's the only way to feed their family and often they are forced by the druglords.

Why can't we just be a bit more sympathetic to the plight of these people ... instead of just thinking that we are superior to them ....

I absolutely think I am superior to this woman. You think a lifetime of rape and beatings for this poor, cute little 6 year old girl is better than her husband being killed as long as the girl is still "living"? This is insanity to the highest degree.

Your mistake is in assuming that after the father is dead they'll leave the daughter alone. If they don't? There's no one left to even theoretically protect them.

January 25, 2013 at 6:17 pm |

Bob

How do you feel superior? You supported the killings of thousands of innocent children and women in Iraq!! Same thing in Afganistan!! What have you really done to help these people?

January 27, 2013 at 11:54 pm |

samehere

I completely agree with you. Some others here have said that they would poison their daughter and self instead of trading. They don't even have poison to kill themselves. They lead a very poor life and perhaps this has been going on for so long that after being disheartened this is the only way they feel they can survive.

I had the exact same points, very happy someone else agrees!
I've traveled to several third world countries and they have to resort to anything they can to support their families. They can't just pick up government assistance and move somewhere. Also, religion has nothing to do with it. Many dealers in the ghetto on the East side of Cleveland (my home town) attend church every Sunday. It's horrible to hand over a child, but most farmers in third world countries have many children and must do whats best for the whole.
The real problem lies within the government and their lack of action on this issue.

It is not strange .... you are far away from many genuine info. secondly time is going to come in syria where a father will sell beautiful daughter for sale on 1 meal. It is this hidden policy of WAR MONGER COUNTRY LIKE ISRAEL, USA and EUROPE has lots to do in the Worlds selective destruction. What goes around will surely COME AROUND. - Believe me.

Hey tiger. The U.S. is not in Syria. What is going on there is all Syrian. Nobody else.

January 26, 2013 at 12:27 pm |

Reality

Afghanistan has been through 34 years of war – a third of a century. Their entire economy is in ruins. Until you can rebuild their economy, provide sufficient punishement for Drug lords and users, and provide an alternate source of income for opium, this story will not be the last – it has nothing to do with religion, stories like this happen in America where a drug addict temporarily sells their daugthers to convicted rapists to fund their habits – its the addiction thats the problem

This is a sin that this happening and we're reading stories about it! These men must have had sorry excuses for parents. We have sick people in the United States, but at least our court system works for the most part in punishing criminals and protecting our children. I am proud to be an American and live in the USA! My prayers go out to these innocent children and I pray that the mothers protect their children better – God knows their government isn't.

Someone who turns their innocent child over to drug lords should get the death penalty by law. Both parents should be publicly beheaded for using their child to pay for their sins. The man chose to grow the illegal crop and he chose to borrow the money. Why should an innocent child pay for his stupidity?

It can be stopped easily. Government needs to issue report or communicate to general public that most of the complaints against the growers come from anonymous sources which they identified as lenders in most cases.

I am an Afghan and i just read the article and i am shocked and surprised. I just can't believe any Afghan parents would give away their child so safe someone or pay someone. I would prefer to die way and get cut to pieces than showing my child face to them. I am sure many Afghans are the same, they would prefer getting killed than agreeing to trade their daughter/son. I am not saying this because i am not in that situation, i am saying it because that's what anyone would do if they have love for their child/wife. I am so sad by reading this article and i wish i could help and get that little girl release from that situation even if it would cost me some good fortune than still i would do it. Those people who are asking for that little girls are not Afghans, they are not humans they are just animals. I pray that they don't give them this little girl and if there is any government in Afghanistan than they should step in to secure the child. PLEASEEEEEEEEEE

Low class person can only talk low. The way you are talking just shows what type of society you are living and how your parents has raised you. Shame on you coward and I wish you could say that on my face than your than i would show what Afghans do to person like you.

January 25, 2013 at 5:53 pm |

Cadiz

Afghani, we see all too often what Afghanis to to other human beings. Your threats here only confirm the press reports.

My heart is breaking for this beautiful child. Does anyone in the US and other countries consider the fact that our drug culture is fueling not only these atrocities but the death and destruction that is also happening within our borders and just south of our borders? It is always facinating to me that people across the globe who indulge in drugs do not consider how that affects and fuels many of the negiative aspects of our society. I have to admit that when I was younger, smoking pot was part of my life style. Now I recognize that this has a direct affect on the murder and crime rates and will not indulge in this activity.

This is precisely why I'd put druggies on chaingangs and sober them up with a couple years of hard labor. They finance this type of nonsense with their selfish llittle habits. We need some real discipline to clean up the dregs of our rapidly crumbling society.

Why can't we form sort of coalition to rescue these girls...these from Afghanistan, or India, or these other third world countries? If we could raise an "army" of educated girls, who could return as adults if they wanted to, to address the horrors of thier country...imagine what that would do? If the fathers won't/can't do it, then all of us as mothers have an obligation, to all the children of the world...whereas our children have been so fortunate...

If I were a billionaire, I'd be financing projects to send ex-SF dudes undercover after human traffickers. Every now and then, there'd be a news story about 50 criminals found dead in a warehouse somewhere and a bunch of kids showing up to an NGO in the middle of the night unannounced with $100 bills stuffed in their pockets to finance their care. It's time to clean up the human gene pool and protect kids, and it's pretty obvious most government/law enforcement isn't up to the task. I wish other people thought the same way.

I just don't understand why someone else doesn't feel the same way. Governments won't do what they need to to

Most parents would rather die than hand over their daughter for a life of misery. The fact Afghanis are willing to turn over a helpless child to save the father speaks volumes of their sense of morality. As a father, I could not live with myself if I allowed my daughter to suffer that kind of fate nor would I put my family in that kind of danger dealing with drug traffickers. This really shows that the men in Afghanistan have no conscience, they think only of themselves and do not care about their families, especially their wives and daughters. There is especially something wrong with Muslims for allowing any of this to happen.

We don't support destruction of opium fields to protect Afgan children, we do it to protect American children. The child slavery issue is an Afgan problem. Why isn't Ms. Amanpour talking to (first) Afgans, (second) moslems, (third) pick an Arab – anyone but Americans – about this problem?

I'm currently reading the novel, "A Thousand Splendid Suns," by the same author of "The Kite Runner," Khaled Hosseini. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ THIS BOOK. It sheds an incredible light on the horrific plight of the women in Afghanistan. I want to take action, but I don't know how. And I don't want to just throw money at some non-profit, either. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed ... immediately.

maybe they would not be as poor and be in this situation if they stopped living in the middle ages and did something like take advantage of the changes the U.S. has provided them and send their kids to school so they can have a future other than the drug business. try farming crops that can be used to feed your families or better yet stop having families that you can't support.

Read the entire post ; there's nothing that states Alisha wasn't underage(it's a fact that she herself stated) the article you mentioned basically highlights some Muslims' 'perspective' who claims that 'Alisha was a feisty one', if anything the article further proves the 'Innocence of Muslims' .

That being said I really feel sorry for the girl. Wish there was something that could be done to improve the situation in Afghanistan.

(PS- I don't understand though , why these people continue to have more and more children when they cannot properly care for them.)

January 28, 2013 at 8:39 am |

ziggy

Actually there is nothing in the koran about Aisha's marriage. It is in the Hadith so you are lying.

That country is so F'd up! Billions of dollars, thousands of lives, corruption of Government, and never an end in sight! It will never ever change, and God is NO help either there! So especially saddened for the kids there! I wish something could be done, and nothing is being done. God Damn Government there!

IJM (www.ijm.org) just announced they freed 149 people (slaves) in India. They were forced to work to pay off debts of their famy; of course the interest rates were so hi, it'd take generations to repay even the smallest loan.

At least there is some hope in the dark human trafficking/slavery story. Thanks CNN for being so persistent in raising awarness to this issue.

Drugs are bad. If there wasn't a market for opium, this wouldn't happen. Period. As long as there are people addicted to drugs, we will never be free of the horrors associated with the drug trade: murder, rape, destruction, death, ruined economies.

you are actually a just right webmaster. The web site loading velocity is amazing.
It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick.
In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a wonderful activity in
this subject!

It just needs to be understood that in the religion of these people the life and wellbeing of a girl child is very low. In their beliefs, the primary future for her is only to to be a receptical for their urges and to bear their children. We can hide behind political correctness all we want but any in-depth and open minded study will show what truth is.

Poor little girl! The parents are a disgrace to the child! They should not get themselves into debt in the first place. Therefore, ban drug trafficking and the loaners should have suggest to the parents to work hard by offering various kinds of jobs (types that would not bring harm to others, like cleaners job) for them to do. If the parents are not afraid of hardship, they can do these jobs, if not, they are selfish and lazy. Shame on them!

Yeah, those shameful parents should have more money. What did they spend it on, a Ferrari? As sad, and shameful as this is, they did it because they had no money and the other option was watching the whole family starve. The father's a farmer, probably illiterate, what other job is he going to get?

So slavery is present in the islamic world? Where are the takfiri islamo-facist taliban that are supposed to be protecting? Perhaps they are the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity? Protecting the weak, the innocent, the powerless from tyranny is a Judeo-Christian value, based on each person "created-in-the-image-of-God" with all the value that implies. You want "human rights", turn your back on these takfiri "minions of satan", who enslave little girls.

I agree, this is one hard topic and society needs to resolve it. But on the other hand I wonder, why this topic become an issue only when its involves girls? Why you will never see an article let's help boys. Let's stop boys being forced to combat or to hard labour? Why? Answer? Because they are boys and we are becoming male hating society. Men are becoming disposable. Even UN admits that by naming 11th of October the international Girl child day. Ye, only girl child day. What about boys? What kind a message we are sending to boys and men? And please spare me the feminist reactions. As I said at the beginning, the society should do everything in its power to stop this issues related to girls, but we should shown the same amount of enthusiasm helping boys.

You know who largely got rid of gangs trafficking children last time? The Taliban. Part of the reason they has so much support initially. When they inevitably come back into power they'll crush down these drug gangs, in their horrendously violent way. And things will go back to the way they were.

From the comfort of your house you judge others what a shame. You think these people can just walk down the street and get a a job at Burger king or Walmart?? Each land bears different crops and fruits. It just happens that the land there is used for growing Opium. There is nothing wrong with Opimum. People in that region smoke opimum all the time and its probably useful there. It helps them to give them energy in those mountainous and cold climates. What we do in the west is wrong to chemically alter the opium into heroin.

From the Mexican Drug War, to the Taliban, to the Mafia – the illegal drug trade finances nearly all the evil in the world. The saddest part is that we could end it all overnight – it's time to legalize all drugs now. Fight drug abuse the only way that works – through treatment and public awareness campaigns – and let the remaining money be earned by legit, tax-paying business rather than evil armies.

Why don't people think outside that box!. What most of you dont realize is that the societies in the west are also partially to blame for this poor girl's situation. Who do you think buys the opium that grows in Afganistan?
If the west stop buying them then there will be no need for them to grow it.

As for whether it is right or wrong to hand over her daughter to the drug lords i cant comment because i don't know what her situation is so i cant judge.

I feel sorry for those claiming that this is somehow related to Islam. People just look for any excuse to blame islam for anything. These are drug dealers (including the husband) so in my view would not be considered good muslims.

For heavens sake just because a 50yr old saudi man marries a 6yr old girl it does not mean that is what islam teaches us to do.

I am not saying that muslims dont do it. It happens everywhere. I can quote you examples of child abuse in the US, Europe, middle east and Asia of children as young as 3 years old.

There are nasty people all over the world including nasty muslims. What i have a problem with is that when it happens in the west, they call the person who did it a pedophile, someone who was abused etc etc. But if it is a Muslim that does it they call him a Muslim pedophile doing it because his religion teaches him to do it – go figure.

January 27, 2013 at 11:12 am |

upside down

Easy to fix. Agent Orange the whole country. All plants will die, some will get cancer, most will starve. And I don't care about any man, woman, or child in this cesspool.

These Taliban call them Muslim the are the filth of the world, and these Afghan lords call them Muslims taking innocent girls from their family They are the filth, I hope American forces, NATO forces get these no good people and hang them.

the object is to build a more civil society. Were I king, I would tell the people in one hr. we will be starting over. And I would make quite clear, the reasoning behind my public decree. I would dorp Nutron bombs to kill all the people. And would continue to do so in the future until, all the people respected the rights of the vulnerable. For you are expendable if you think otherwise. Nutron Bombs are a good thing, they only kill people.

One more casualty of the world's idiotic War on Drugs. Just imagine if heroin were legal like it should be for adults and we dealt with heroin addiction exclusively as a health issue. These little girls wouldn't have to be sold to drug lords. In fact, there wouldn't even be drug lords.

This shows exactly why we should legalize the drug trade, because of the unintentional collateral damage like this. To jkegor, it's either hand over the girl or have her taken anyway by the drug lords, most likely with the rest of the family killed as well.

It is very funny to read all the comments and realize that we blame the taliban, the parents , the drug traffickers, NATO and his brother, instead of accepting that it is our fault because we, the US and the civilized world are the ones that consume drugs and generate a demand for such business, maybe its time to accept that in the global world every action of every individual has a tremendous impact on somebody else far, far away

Another great example of US foreign and Domestic policy in action. Before our intervention Afghanistan had very little influence on the international opium and heroin market. Now that the US is in there Afghanistan is the number one supplier. The CIA has been involved directly and indirectly in the drug business for decades. It should disgust and embarrass every American to be blinded by the rhetoric of those who hide behind patriotism in order to carry out these crimes. And some of us wonder why people all over the world burn our flag. Duh.

Some societies aren't cut out for the modern world. They're not capable or interested. We need to let them slide back into the Dark Ages where they belong. Americans will still get their heroin. No real problems on our side.

Without Islam, places like Afghanistan will degenerate into barbarism.

This is what the new, liberal West will not acknowledge, that religion, whether Islam or Christianity is the only real backstop against these types of horrors. These people will never be enlightened secularists, like we wish they would be. At least under the Taliban, there was some small measure of justice and compassion in the land.

Perhaps the long term outcome for this culture would be quite different if this woman let the drug lords keep her husband and she chooses to save her daughter. The government is more likely to change if men pay the price rather than women or little girls.

Just kill all of these filty animals and be done with it. I am sick of American money going to try and protect a race of bugs that deserve only to be squashed beneath my feet. Wipe them off the planet and everyone will be better for it!

Based on the comments I've read, people seem to think that being poor is a good and legitimate excuse to betray one's child and sell her to drug lords.

The way I see it, if you're so poor that you can't afford to feed your kids, then don't have kids. If you're going to sell your child to someone who is likely going to abuse, rape or kill her just to save your own a**, you don't deserve to have children.

Unfortunately Americans now have a not my fault mentality. We are never accountable for our actions wether intentional or not. We, Americans bear a large responsibility for the drug trade and addicts. Our movies and culture glamorize and encourage its use. We even refer to herion use as a recreaional drug. I cannot fault the poor people in Afganistan for growing a crop which will enable them to sustain their familes. I can blame the drug addicts, hollywood, those who show and demonstate tolerance and in some cases acceptance of this drug culture and its use.

That makes as much sense as someone blaming the fast food restaurants for making them fat or alcoholic beverage companies for making them drunk. Should a parent blame the pharmaceutical industry if their idiot teenager decides to abuse OTC medications?

The sad fact is that even if drugs and drug lords were removed from the picture entirely, girls an d women would still be bartered away to pay off debts or gain financially, etc. Until females are valued in all their humanity and allowed to govern their own lives free of laws and religious preachings and practices that devalue them, they will continue to be treated as property and to be enslaved.

I always considered my way of life normal. To think that in other parts of the world, this scenario is 'normal' just makes me want to cry. Children used as a commodity is unthinkable. I know it happens, but not in my world.

@lance corporal
I totally agree.. Those that think that all they have to do is work hard and it will all come to them.. And sneer at those that life has left behind.. Have no clue to how it works..
In a world where anything can happen along the way.. You can end up poor and desperate no matter how hard you worked.. And those that worked least end up with much.
its about caring about those that are in need and understanding that its not tier fault ..Most the time it is not hte fualt of those that just didn't manage to grab the gold ring..
Nothing in life is so important you allow someone who struggles to do without the basics to life.
I hate that the world is getting more and more selfish and condemning of those that fell along the way.
The have and have not world ..Is no world to brag about..

Why not have Western and other well off families "buy"/adopt these young girls at the price of the family debt. Might be cheaper than many of the international adoption fees? The child can be saved and never fear that danger again. Yes, there will need to be a third party to evaluate the motives of the adopting family but even so that may still be cheaper and the young girl may end up with so many more opportunities.

Unfortunately the government doesn't allow westerners to adopt in Afghanistan. Many have tried and failed. Local families that are unable to conceive come into the city to secretly adopt as it is a shameful thing. This situation is primarily occurring in remote villages with older girls and local families only adopt when they are babies.

Now that Russia has banned U.S. citizens from adopting Russian children, maybe those people can focus on adopting girls from Afghanistan. Really, if this was a just world, no Afghani girl would be left in Afghanistan or the neighboring female enslaving and abusing states until those female hating regions abandoned their misogynist ways.

The fact that we are discussing the issue at all, now that is what is important. Regardless of anyone's views on the situation, the fact of the matter is, that we are being made aware of these issues and that knowledge is the first step, when it comes to change.

Wake up Muslims, you have a terrible misogyny problem. You throw acid in women's faces. Your prophet raped a minor girl. You shot Malala. You give off 6 year old girls to Muslim drug lords. You Muslims are abusing women all over the world.

This system of payment also used widely in Pakistan and most don't see a problem with it back home. If you borrow money and can not pay I don't see anything wrong in paying with your family member because it is what you now have for payment instead of money. In fact this was a common "barter" system that was invented by the Arab and Pakistani traders who ruled the world at one time. It promoted trade and gives the debtor a second chance. It is 100 times better than so called democracy where deadbeat debtors claim bankruptcy and not pay the debt. I think banks should start taking away family members as payment and you will see there will be so called "bad loans" . This is why Pakistan and Afghanistan is progressing with making sure all rules are followed and there is a second chance.

You must've been sold or traded, or why else would you make such an unforgivable statement. Just because it happened historically doesn't mean that it was the right thing to do. Arabs were/are heavily involved in slavery and human trafficking, and will never admit to their evil. It's too bad men can't feel childbirth pain, because that alone could stop them from raping and other demeaning victimization.

Costs from the purchasing of selling children shouldn't be tax deductable, and a mandatory 3-months return policy may be able to alleviate some of the problems. That would, of course, also increase consumer protection. Support American production – buy children in the U.S.!

Immoral! Is this why in cultures that practice Islam, ( or any other strongly organized religion) don't allow women a proper voice? A woman's duty by nature is to protect her offspring. No man should interfere with that, ever. Child "marriage" is condoned because a man's thirst for power and control makes the docile innocence of a child appealing, so men prey on the cluelessness of innocence. This is the main reason people are afraid of womanhood, in all of her outspoken glory. A women who is confident, and advocates for truth and fairness is a threat to anyone who wants absolute control. The fight for women's rights is an uphill battle in societies where patriarchy is the rule and the law. This is so wrong! But beware; the abused will only take so much before they turn to murder to escape the abuse. I envision in the near future that women desperate for change in societies that cut their development, turn to death of themselves and of their abusers...no matter what religion.

February 18, 2013 at 3:56 am |

elena

and yet many still opposed mass sterilization? and to top it up some crazy scientist wants to clone neanderthals!

This is the sadest thing ever ! My heart is broken knowing that this beautiful ANGEL HAS TO SUFFER! Why cant we just all live in peace, this world would be a much better place for everyone. This child has no fault. None at all... Someone needs to put a stop to this. enough is enough already/ Why dont these people harm themself instead? Poor baby... My heart is aching for this family and every child living this torture! I dont even know this baby girl and Im already inlove with her. We cant let them take this baby..

There are poppy crops that can be grown and sold legally in Afghanistan, including using the orange blossom from the poppy plant. Companies like this http://www.the7virtues.com/about.html are putting actions behind their concern for the people of Afghanistan. The orange blossom business is just as profitable as the opium business for the farmer and is totally legal. The challenge is in the politics and social paradigms that keep the Afghan people from exploiting this option. What can regular folks do to help this situation? We can help support these companies who are working for change. Supporting this kind of initiative is not an immediate solution, but it's a place to start.

I love how everyone blames the government and parents, what would you do in that situation? Nothing, because there's nothing you can do when you have a gun pointed at your head from some drug trafficker threatening to kill you if you say anything. Also fun fact, look into how many american troops, yes AMERICAN troops protect those same opium fields .

Look, why the government does not ITSELF CONTROL the crops and sell the product to pharmaceutical industry??? That should be the real solution and the policy makers and NATO must focus on that if they want to leave Afghanistan in a responsible manner. The whole nation would profit from that and could afford better education and economic growth. Put up controlled crops and give jobs to the poor, so they won´t be forced to cooperate with the drug lords.

This is the real problem with Muslims, they always want someone else to do something for them. Now you want the government to start dealing drugs for you so you can continue living on the dole? Pathetic. Loser.

Of course it will worsen once the troops pull out. Does anyone really think the Afghan government has what it takes? They couldn't even rid themselves of the Taliban due to so much corruption. I feel sorry for Afghans, I can only hope they find their way to much needed peace.

You are absolutely correct on this. I would sell my soul and give up my own life if it meant my offspring would be unharmed, untouched, and allowed to develop into sound adults. I simply don't understand the mindset of a people whose culture is to allow men so much advantage, that a woman's word and protection of her child mean nothing. Why else would this woman be willing to hand over her baby to thugs to release a husband. In their world, and according to their beliefs, children (especially girls) have little value. No match for a husband, where in a society that won't allow a woman to venture out in public without a male guardian (exclusively a husband or male relative). Such disease we are witnessing here. And we call ourselves human beings, but lack humanity.

I see a lot of us beating the drum of opium and its biproducts are addictive and kill people. Is there anything else Western countries produce and export all around the world that kill and destroy human life??? And they made it legal as well? Those products don't just kill the user but it kills the entire villages, cities, and countries.

Yes, my dear western bloggers It's called weapons, arms, bombs, bullets, guns, fighter plans. Sell all for the name of defense .... way to go. But Afghanistan cannot produce opium for you entertainment ....

Yes, here (and increasingly other countries as well) it is FOOD that is killing a vast majority of us... just more slowly; through disease, and Monsanto is the drug dealer. We all need to pay more attention to the big picture.

This is an Abonination. Children throughout this planet are being abused 24/7 365. It is time to have a f-ing real war. Something worthwhile living and dying for. A War for the Children. May all of these worthless pieces of @@@@ burn in hell. If it isn't the catholic peodephial priest then it is drug dealers. If it isn't drug dealers then it's f-ing Talibin or other extremist who see women less than an animal. It is time to make war on all of these as2h0le3. Kill them all. Take no prisoners.

This is not a story about drug dealers and heroin addicts, it's about big business drug manufacturers. It's about the raw material needed to make Hydrocodone and Cough Medicine; it's about pharmaceutical companies greedily closing their eyes to little girls being raped to death so they can turn a profit buying their raw materials from the opium dealers. Pharmaceutical companies are not what they appear to be.

I remember seeing a story of how a farmer switched from growing Poppies to Saffron which is a very lucrative and well growing crop in this region. How many other crops are out there which would do well in this climate? NATO should be helping to provide positive farming. The less poppy which is produced the less there will be available and hopefully the less drug usage. Just one ounce of red saffron is going for $200.00 an ounce. Grow something which is legal and also sustainable! Teach them to grow profitably without these terrible practices!

Very interesting! If I knew I would maybe have to sell my 6-year old daughter or my juicy wife to support my opium crop growing, and I if I still chose to do it, what does that mean? Doesn't anything else grow there? Maybe opium growing is more lucrative!!! Money over family?!

It all comes down to governments violating the rights of their citizens. Why does it matter if they grow opium poppies? Of course tobacco, that kills 10s of millions more than opium, is just fine. In fact, now that in people in developed countries are giving up tobacco, the tobacco companies have focused their effort on selling their poison to the third world. It's all about corruption and control and not about concern about health and safety.

As long as the Afghans were under the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism they were noble in their soul. Now with the
Arab-Turkish-Iranian muslims massacres,rapines and genocide committed their moral code has changed. Of course
there is cruelty in India but it is NOT condoned by the majority . The Afghans are not even allowed to talk of their peaceful past –but like many in the former Arabic-Iranian belt their hero is a schizophrenic plunderer ,Mahmud of Ghazni-even
the Uzbeks have forgotten that the name Tashkent is related to Taksha the brother of the Hindu saint Ram.
I am NOT a fanatic contrary to what you might think .

Why must NATO pay the Afghan government to fight the mafia in charge of the illegal crops. Afghan needs to fight their own battles with the heroin trade. The Afghan government is corrupt, they don't want to stop the drug trade. It would be money out of their pockets.

Typical drug war tactics, the police are too scared or incompetent to deal with the drug lords so they ruin the lives of people just trying to make a living. It's so easy to sit here and blame them for growing opium, and moan about the poor people who willingly buy and use heroin/opium as though they are the real victims. Not a single one of you would scrape by trying to grow wheat or raise goats if you had a chance of making much more money and possibly give your family a life better than "not starving today". Bunch of hypocrites sitting in armchairs trying to judge people who are just happy to not get blown up this week.

I guess that is what happens when farmers make a deal with the devil and surely there have been enough children taken that they know what word has gotten to them before they borrow the money what the cost is if they don't pay it back. I feel sorry for the children, I don't feel sorry for their fathers that make these deals with the devil. They know they are making a deal with the devil when they make the deal.

This is just more of the plight of developing countries. Everyone wishes there was an easy solution but there isn't one. In a perfect world the government would subsidize these farmers in switching over to a needed crop that would be useful in their economy rather than just destroying the poppies and leaving these farmers and families hanging. Then they would actually protect these people against the drug lords and their minions (and maybe actually execute some of them when they try to extract revenge against these farmers, just to show the government means business). Then maybe they will move on to some other poor nation to exploit its population.
Of course, the real solution is to remove the demand for these drugs, but that's a huge international issue that likely won't occur anytime soon, if ever.

Wondering if there is an update on this girl in the picture. Was she really handed over to drug lords. I know it's a story on an epidemic. Just wish when journalist focus on specific individuals to demonstrate a problem that they could help those individuals in the story as well. Not just move on to the next story like oh well too bad for this particular little girl. I wish I had 20k. I'd help this girl. But I guess I'll just have to settle for praying.

horrible story and more terrible is that it s from real, daily life of humans who try to suffer from extrem poverty😦. The international society needs to help in this direction more and pay ultimate attention.

My heart breaks for these beautiful little girls. They are in my prayers. Please stop bringing up the subject of Islam. These drug dealers are immoral monsters and their behaviour is absolutely not supported by religion. Wake up! I am a Muslim woman, and the Quran does not support this kind of behaviour at all, so please stop spewing your ignorant comments. This is not a matter of religion.

NorCalMojo, how would u like it if I burned a bunch of bibles. You can't blame these parents because i can bet most of you are not living the condition of the mother. Once the the father is dead, who said the drug lords would not come to the house of the family and take the whole family. Than not one kid but all the kids would be victims to assult and rape. And the mother should not poison the kids and herself because that would be suicide which is not allowed in islam and the would be murdering which is also not allowed in islam. May god help the middle east and may god help the misguided.

Where I think this is a disgusting way, it is unfortunately reality. However, I do think that if this is the case, the father should have stayed in captivity. How dare he go free while his little girl gets taken as stated by mother "i have to give my little girl to get my husand back." Screw that. He should not want his little girl to go in exchange for him and same if the mother was in that position. I couldnt live with myself if I gave my kid for myself or my husband. Just my two cents, not debating.

Well one thing would be to stop depending upon a government that is obviously unwilling to protect their people, and the community starts taking the steps it needs to protect itself from this kind of thing.

But then the left thinks that arming one's self with the guns necessary to defend one's community is evil, and the Muslims tend to agree with the left most of the time, especially the radicals.

It's a shame on the part of the President of Afghanistan to admit that the CIA gives him billions of dollars, and he does nothing to protect his own farmers, President Obama should immediately stop CIA from paying billions of dollars to the Afghanistan President, and instead help the farmers with these billions of dollars, so that they can dedícate to agricultural farming.

The term Hinduism also occurs sporadically in Sanskrit texts such as the later Rajataranginis of Kashmir (Hinduka, c. 1450), some 16th-18th century Bengali Gaudiya Vaishnava texts, including Chaitanya Charitamrita and Chaitanya Bhagavata, usually to contrast Hindus with Yavanas or Mlecchas.;..'-

I don't believe the morality is the issue, survival is. My understanding that many of these poppy farmers have no choice. It's not just that it's all that they know, which is more often than not true, but they are not allowed to grow anything else by the drug lords themselves. Even if they could, where are they going to get the money to plant other crops? This is going to take a strong Afghan government and international support to change things.

The cultures that really need birthcontrol don't allow it. Raising your children in such poverty that you have to sell them to drug lords. Where are the liberals pushing the birthcontrol? They should be in Afghanistan and cultures like this. Not the West where Westerners control their destinies already.

Who told men that women were put on this earth for them to buy/sell/barter and use as deal making tools. These men in this world who are treating women in this way are no more that pimps/pediphiles and criminals. I look forward to the day when they answer to their god for desicrating his perfect creations.

Post a comment

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.